Medicines turnover in Latvia increases every year
When evaluating the data regarding medicines consumption in 2014, the State Agency of Medicines (SAM) has concluded that the turnover for medicines has continuously increased during the previous years. Since 2010 the average annual turnover of medicines authorised in Latvia has been approximately 300 million euro (including VAT), reaching 316 million euro in 2014. The number of licensed medicines wholesalers has also increased reaching 73 wholesalers operating in Latvia in 2014.
The average price per package of medicines authorised in Latvia was approximately 7 euro in 2014, as it was also in 2013, and it has increased by 3% in comparison with the previous year. The average price per package of unauthorised medicines was about 15 euro in 2014, and this was an increase by 26%.
In 2014 acetylsalicylic acid and ibuprofen were the most selling non-prescription medicines according to international non-proprietary names (INN). Similarly to the previous year the distribution of medicines consumed was dominated by medicines for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders (34%), followed by medicines for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract and metabolic disorders (23%), leaving behind medicines for the treatment of nervous system (10%), blood and lymphatic system (10%) and other organ system disorders.
SAM has prepared and published the annual report of statistics on consumption of medicines in Latvia. The report contains information regarding total turnover of medicines in euros, a number of packages sold, turnover distribution according to various consumer groups, according to dispensing status of medicines, as well as information regarding the most sold medicines in Latvia.
